Ash-sifting machine



(No Model.)

O. E. FRENCH.

ASH SIFTING MACHINE.

Patented Feb. 27, 1894.

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I M W W STATES Para FFC' ASH-SIFTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 515,399, dated February 27, 1894.

Application filed March 15, 1893,

To all whom it may concern:

3e it known that'I, CHARLES E. FRENCH, a eitlzen of the United States, residing at Manchester, 1n the county of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire, haveinventedanew and useful Improvement in Ash-sifting Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being made to the accompanyingdrawings, in which similarletters refer to similar parts.

My invention relates to certain improved apparatus for sifting ashes, and by the use of which, the ashes are sifted directly from the portable ash-pan of a stove, and the object of the invention, is to provide means whereby the ashes of an ordinary stove, may be sifted directly from the portable ash-pan of the stove, without first transferring from the ashpan to any other vessel or receptacle.

Figure 1 of the drawings shows a general perspective view of the apparatus, ready to receive an ash-pan with its contents, including a square box or can adapted to receive the refuse ashes. Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the apparatus as used with a round or cylindrical can adapted to receive the refuse ashes and discharge them into a barrel or similar vessel. Fig. 3 is a top view of the apparatus. Fig. dis a longitudinal vertical section. Figs. 5 and 6 show details of construction, and Fig. 7 shows a port-able ash-pan of an ordinary stove.

This sifter consists substantially of a square or rectangular box or frame A of wood or metal, with a top or cover of wire netting C, and a bottom of the same, or any other suitable material. The top B, may be hung with hinges and provided with suitable fastenings to hold it closed. The box or frame A, is provided at its opposite sides with axles a, which upon one side forms also the handle or crank b. Within the box or frame A, is an adjustable table or pedestal D, supported from the bottom M of the box or frameA, by the screw Ewhich operates in the nut F, fixed to the center of the bottom M of the box or frame A. At two, and opposite inner sides of the box or frame A, and the upper edges thereof, are fixed metallic and notched plates G; wire rods H, (one at each side) with their ends bent parallel to each other in the form of an inverted letter U, (and shown clearlyin Figs.4 and 6,)

Serial No, 466,126. (No model.

extend lengthwise across the top of the box or frame A, with the longitudinal post of the wire resting in the notches e, the parallel ends extending toward the bottom of the box or frame, and about which parallel ends, is a spiral spring 0, the spiral springs being below the notched plate G, and prevented from coming off of the wire, by a burr or washer 01. As thus constructed, the box or frame A, may be placed over a can or refuse ash receptacle I, adapted to support the box or frame A, by the axles a, a, resting in suitable notches on the can, corresponding to the axles on the box or frame; the handle b, turned downward and resting in the catch f to prevent the box or frame from accidentally turning; an ashpan, (one of which is shown in Fig. 7) is, with its contents of unsifted ashes,-placed in the box or frame, and on the adjustable table or pedestal D, the table or pedestal D, having been first adjusted so that the ashpan will come flush with the top edge of the box or frame A, the wire rods H, are moved one to each side of the ash-pan and resting in their respective notches ethe springs c holding the rods into the notches e, and the rods H holding the ash-pan centrally in the box or frame A, and preventing the ash-pan from a sliding or lateral motion in the box. The top B,of the box is now closed and properly fastenedthus closing also the top of the ash-panthe handle or crank b, is now slipped from the catchf, and brought upward to a perpendicular position which carries the box or frame A to an inverted position, bringing the top of the ash-pan downward, when by giving the handle I), a semirotary, or vibratory motion, the ashes are sifted through the wire netting cover of the box, and fall into the receptacle below, while the unconsumed coal remains in the ash-pan from whereby turning the handle so as to bring the ash-pan up again-4:110 ash-pan, with the unconsumed coal, may be removed from the box or frame A. From this description it will be seen that the ashes are sifted directly from the ash-pan, thus avoiding the dust and annoyance incident to the usual method of removing the ashes from a stove, and as the box or frame A, containing the ash-pan is placed in position on the can or refuse ash receptacle I, and its cover J closed over the whole, the entire operation of sifting the ashes, is performed with practically no annoyance from dust.

It will be seen from the construction of this apparatus as thus described-that the adjustable table or pedestal D, is to all intents and purposes a false or adjustable bottom for the box or frame A, and that the screw E and nut F, are simply employed for the purpose of making an adjustment of this false bottom D, which adjustment is made for the purpose of adapting the depth of the box or frame A, so as to correspond to the depth of ash-pans of varying sizes, hence, any form of adjustable bottom, or table, or any method of adjusting such bottom or table, maybe employed without departing from the spirit of my invention. It will be also seen that the objectof the wire rods H, and notched plates G, are simply for the purpose of keeping the ash-pan in its proper position within the box or frame A. Various other methods however, may readily be suggested by a practical mind, and which may be employed without detracting from, or adding to, the intent of my invention.

In Fig. 2 it will be observed that the refuse ash receptacle I with the cover J, are of cylindrical form, and when it is closed, ashes may be sifted in the house or anywhere creating practically no dust; when the sifting process is completed, the can or cylinder I may be placed over a barrel or other suitable vessel, the base K to which the cylindrical can I is attached, forming a cover for the barrel, and a slide L may be drawn, by which means an opening is made in the bottom of semi-revoluble box or frame A, it will be at 1 once apparent that the box or frame A, containinga portable ash-pan from a stove, may be supported and revolved or turned without the employment of the can or receptacle I. So too, if the box or frame A is made of a depth corresponding to the depth of certain ash-pan or panslikely to be used with a particular box or frame, such particular box or frame would not require the adj ustable table, pedestal, or false bottom, D, or the wire 11 and notched plate G, or equivalents, other than such as the box or frame itself would serve.

I claim- The combination of the frame A, adjustable bottom or table D, adjustable guides H, notched plates G, wire netting C, and can or refuse ash receptacle I, substantially as shown.

CHARLES E. FRENCH. 

